marathon
noun
mar·a·thon
ˈmer-ə-ˌthän 
ˈma-rə-
often attributive
1
: a footrace run on an open course usually of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers)
broadly
: a long-distance race
2
a
: an endurance contest
b
: something (such as an event, activity, or session) characterized by great length or concentrated effort
Examples of marathon in a Sentence
We watched a marathon of our favorite movies.
Recent Examples on the Web
All users, regardless of age, will continue to see in-app reminders during long ChatGPT sessions that encourage taking breaks—a feature OpenAI introduced earlier this year after reports of users spending marathon sessions with the chatbot.
—
ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025
Tanzania’s Alphonce Felilx Simbu won the world marathon championship via an incredible photo finish.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
In a three-hour, 18-minute, 12-inning marathon, 28-year-old rookie Troy Johnston was the hero, belting his first career walk-off home run to lift the Marlins over the Detroit Tigers, 6-4.
—Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
The ten day adult party is a true Key West creative explosion, featuring a marathon of parties, parades, handmade costumes, headdresses, street fair food, and tropical island energy.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marathon
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ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025
Tanzania’s Alphonce Felilx Simbu won the world marathon championship via an incredible photo finish.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
In a three-hour, 18-minute, 12-inning marathon, 28-year-old rookie Troy Johnston was the hero, belting his first career walk-off home run to lift the Marlins over the Detroit Tigers, 6-4.
—Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
The ten day adult party is a true Key West creative explosion, featuring a marathon of parties, parades, handmade costumes, headdresses, street fair food, and tropical island energy.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marathon
Cite this Entry
“Marathon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marathon. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
marathon
noun
mar·a·thon
ˈmar-ə-ˌthän
1
a
: a long-distance footrace of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers) that is run on an open course
b
: a race other than a footrace (as for swimmers) marked especially by great distance
2
: a long hard contest
a dance marathon
marathon
adjective
Etymology
named for Marathon, site of a battlefield in ancient Greece
Word Origin
Marathon is the name of a plain in Greece located about 26 miles (42 kilometers) from the city of Athens. It was the scene of a great victory by the Greeks over the Persians in 490 b.c. According to legend a Greek soldier named Pheidipiddes ran all the way from the battlefield to Athens to deliver the news. He reached the city, gasped out his message, and fell dead. When the modern Olympic Games began in 1896, one of the events was a footrace of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers), called a marathon, in honor of the legendary run by Pheidipiddes.
Geographical Definition
Marathon
geographical name
Mar·a·thon
ˈmer-ə-ˌthän
ˈma-rə-
1
plain of eastern Greece in Attica northeast of Athens on the Aegean Sea
2
ancient town on the plain of Marathon
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